or Ey, in our old writers, is used to indicate an island. Hence the names of places ending in ey denote that they are islands. Thus, Ramsey, the isle of rams; Shepey, the isle of sheep; and so of others.

EIA is also sometimes used for water; and hence the names of places near waters or lakes sometimes terminate in ey.

EBENSTOCK, a city of the kingdom of Saxony, in the circle of Erzgebirge, and bailiwick of Krottendorf. It stands on the river Mulde, in a mining district, 1896 feet above the level of the sea, and contains 3440 inhabitants, employed chiefly in mining and preparing the metals; but the females make a large quantity of thread lace.

ECETÆ, called also HEICETÆ and HICETÆ, were heretics of the seventh century, who made profession of the monastic life. From the passage in Exodus where Moses and the children of Israel are said to have sung a song in praise of the Lord, after they had safely passed the Red Sea, the Ecetæ concluded that, in order to praise God aright, the introduction of singing and dancing was necessary; and as Mary the prophetess, sister of Moses and Aaron, beat a drum on the same occasion, an example which was followed by all the other women to express their joy, the Ecetæ, in order the better to imitate them, enticed females to make profession of the monastic life, and assist in their merit.